After the successful implementation of a corrosion control program and three years of biannual to annual monitoring, the South Fork Water Board has qualified for the state’s most reduced lead and copper monitoring program, which tests 30 sample sites once every three years.

This accomplishment, in conjunction with the South Fork Water Board’s recent achievement receiving the state’s rating of “outstanding performer,” demonstrates its commitment to producing the highest quality drinking water, according to the water board.

The South Fork Water Board is a wholesale water provider to the cities of Oregon City and West Linn, in addition to the Clackamas River Water — South service area.

The SFWB is owned in equal shares by the two cities and withdraws and treats water from the lower Clackamas River to produce soft water for domestic and industrial purposes for approximately 65,000 people.

The Oregon Drinking Water Program administers and enforces drinking water quality standards for public water systems in Oregon and first mandated monitoring for lead and copper levels in 1992.

The program involves testing 60 sample sites every six months for two consecutive six-month periods.

If these two periods are in compliance, testing can then be reduced to 60 sample sites every year for a period of three consecutive years.

If these sample periods are also in compliance, the system can then qualify for a reduced monitoring program that requires the testing of 30 sample sites once every three years.